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{
    "id": 1566733,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1566733/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 150,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Omogeni",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13219,
        "legal_name": "Erick Okong'o Mogeni",
        "slug": "erick-okongo-mogeni"
    },
    "content": "For some of us who come from counties that were privileged to get the County Aggregation and Industrial Parks (CAIPs) projects, we are happy that we are sending money to our counties that will jumpstart construction of CAIPs. However, that dream will not be realised unless there is fiscal responsibility in our counties. I have had the privilege of going around as a Member of a committee. There are counties that have made good progress in construction of CAIPs, while some are lagging behind. There is no explanation other than attributing it to the effective management by our counties. I am happy to tell my people of Nyamira that we will send them Kshs52 million. I hope that the construction that is ongoing at Sironga will pick a better pace than what we have seen before because we want those parks to be finalised, so that people start utilising them for us to say there is transformation. Otherwise, if we just have CAIPs on paper, but we see nothing, that adds no value to our people. I hope that our counties are going to make good use of the money that will be sent there, so that we see good progress in construction of CAIPs. Curse be upon you if you are a governor who receives money that is meant to transform our lives, but you divert it to your pocket. I urge the watchdog bodies like the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to be on the lookout. What happens is that the moment that money hits some of our counties accounts, those who have a good appetite for public money start announcing that money has arrived and it gets diverted. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, secondly is the issue of the Community Health Promoters (CHPs). I fully associate myself with the sentiments made by colleague Senators who have spoken before me. Let us not dehumanise people who are trying to assist the sickly in our society. There are people who have told me that they have not been paid their paltry Kshs2,500 for the past six months. How unfair can we be? As Senators and other state officers, we receive our salaries timely every month. If you are in arrears, it cannot exceed five days. In my County of Nyamira - I do not know about Kakamega - there are CHPs who wait for the arrears up to five or six months. We are being unfair. I am told that is what happens in the counties and not just Nyamira. That is something we cannot be proud of. I hope that we will find a solution, even if it requires taking us to a classroom to brainstorm. We are not being fair to those Kenyans who have put their lives on the line to serve the sick and the needy in the society. Their contribution does not deserve the mistreatment they are getting. They should be getting their stipend monthly. When we were passing this law, I remember last time we said that the idea of making people to be casuals is not good. Perhaps we should have them brought on board on a contractual basis, so that they earn a salary every month. Why keep them if you do not appreciate their services? If we appreciate the services of CHPs, we should pay them monthly. We know and live with them in the villages in the counties where we come from. We need to do better. Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, it is now becoming a ritual. Every day, people who are supposed to be in our health centres or hospitals are always outside here picketing for a simple matter, which is to absorb them on permanent and pensionable terms. When you look at the statistics, we do not have enough professionals in that field. For how long will The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}